Automatically controlled drain valve



p 12, 1967 w. J. SANDER-S 3,341,111

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED DRAIN VALVE Filed April 27, 1965 INVENTOR.WALTER J. SANDERS mm /W ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,341,111AUTOMATECALLY CONTROLLED DRAW VALVE Walter J. Sanders, Jeannette, Pa.,assignor house Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, ration of PennsylvaniaFiled Apr. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 451,223 7 Claims. (Cl. 2301) to Westing-Pa., 21 corpo- ABSTRACT OF THE DISQLOSURE Various arrangements known inthe art have been devised for periodically and automatically removingmoisture accumulated by condensation in a compressed air storagereservoir of an air compressing system, such arrangements usuallyincluding a drain valve fixed to the storage reservoir adjacent a sumpor drainage chamber in which the condensate accumulates. In some of thepresently used automatic drainage arrangements, the drain valve is ofthe self-closing'type operable responsively to air pressure to open anatmospheric communication and thereby allow the condensate to be forcedout by air pressure in the storage reservoir to which the drainagechamber is annexed, the drain valve t-hen closing automatically after apredetermined period of time. In such arrangements, the air pressure foractuating the drain valve to open the atmospheric communication isusually the air pressure supplied via a compressor governor to thecompressor unloader for unloading the compressor when pressure in thestorage reservoir has attained a predeter-' mined maximum, and drainageof the condensate, therefore, occurs at the beginning of the periodduring which the compressor operates in the unloaded condition.

An arrangement is also known whereby the drainage apparatus operatesautomatically to effect drainage of condensate at the end of theunloaded period of the compressor, for, as is *well known, moisturevapor present in compressed air condenses due to cooling of suchcompressed air, and since a greater amount of cooling in the storagereservoir occurs during the period that the compressor operatesunloaded, it follows that a greater amount of moisture condensationoccurs during such unloaded period. It is more desirable, therefore, tohave drainage of condensate occur at the end of the unloaded periodbecause removal of a maximum amount of condensate from the compressedair stored for usage is thereby effected, allowing a minimum ofobjectionable and possibly damaging moisture to reach the device ordevices to which the compressed air is supplied.

Also characteristic of the operation of some of the presently known aircompressing systems is that, follow- I ing operation of the compressorgovernor to cause release Patented Sept. 12, 1967 of air pressure fromthe compressor unloader device for loading the compressor when pressurein the reservoir has reduced to a predetermined minimum, such airpressure from the compressor .unloader is usually released directly toatmosphere.

The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide apparatusincluding a drain valve device controlled in a novel manner so as toautomatically effect drainage of condensate from a drainage chamberassociated with an air pressure storage reservoir of an air compressingsystem at the end of the unloaded period of the compressor, or in otherwords, at the onset of the loaded period of operation of the compressor,said drain valve device being actuated by air pressure released from thecompressor unloader when effected by the compressor governor forcommencing loaded operation of the compressor.

The invention herein disclosed comprises a novel arrangement of a drainvalve device in an air compressing system including a storage reservoirsupplied with compressed air from an air compressor the operation ofwhich is controlled, in well-known manner, by a governor device operableresponsively to a predetermined high pressure in the storage reservoirfor effecting supply of actuating air at said high pressure to acompressor unloader device for unloading the compressor and to apredetermined low pressure in the storage reservoir for causing saidactuating air to be exhausted from said unloader device for loading thecompressor, said drain valve device being connected via a pipe to theexhaust or vent port of the governor device via which said actuating airis exhausted from the unloader device, whereby said drain valve deviceis actuated by such air pressure exhausted from the unloader device toeffect drainage of condensate from the storage reservoir at the end ofthe unloaded period of the compressor. An atmospheric choke is providedbetween the exhaust port in the governor device and the drain valvedevice in the pipe connecting them, the size of said choke being such asto provide adequate relief of air pressure from the unloader device foreifecting prompt restoration of the compressor to its loaded conditionwhile at the same time providing the necessary restriction for delayingdissipation of such air pressure sufliciently for insuring positiveoperation of the drain valve to an open position. Air pressure in theconnecting pipe and the drain valve is eventually dissipated toatmosphere via said choke to thereby condition the drain valve forsubsequent op eration, the flow rate of said choke, determining thelength of time that the drain valve is open for draining condensateduring each cycle of operation.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 shows a schematic arrangement of an aircompressing system embodying the invention including an automatic drainvalve device shown in section, and FIG. 2 shows a portion, in section,of the drain valve device somewhat modified.

As shown in the drawing, an air compressing system embodying theinvention may comprise an air compressor 1, a storage reservoir 2 (onlya portion being shown) to which compressed air from the compressor issupplied via a conduit 3, a check valve device 4 interposed in saidconduit for preventing back flow therethrough, a compressor governordevice 5 for controlling a plurality of compressor unloader devices 6associated respectively with each cylinder of the compressor, the inletside of said compressor governor device being connected to said storagereservoir and conduit 3 via a conduit 7 and the delivery side beingconnected to said compressor unloaders via a conduit 8, and a drainvalve device 9 affixed to said storage reservoir and connected via aconduit 10 to an exhaust or vent port 11 of the compressor governordevice.

The drain valve device 9 comprises a casing 12 afiixed by suitable means(not shown) to the bottom of the storage reservoir 2. A piston assembly13 operably disposed in casing 12 comprises a diaphragm type piston 14which cooperates with said casing to define therein and on oppositesides of said piston a high-pressure chamber 15, connected directly toconduit 10 via a passageway 16, and a low-pressure chamber 17 connectedto conduit 10 via a choke element 18 supported in said casing, saidchoke element thereby providing restrictive communication between saidpassageway and said low-pressure chamber.

The casing 12 is also provided with a drainage chamber 19 which is indirect communication with the storage reservoir 2 via a passage 20formed in said reservoir. A normally seated ball valve 21, for example,is disposed in the drainage chamber 19 for controlling communicationbetween said drainage chamber and atmosphere. The ball valve 21 isadapted, when in a closed position, that is, seated on an annular valveseat 22 surrounding an atmospheric port 23 formed in casing 12, to cutoff communication between drainage chamber 19 and atmosphere, said ballvalve being operable to an open position unseated from said valve seatwhereby condensate accumulated in said drainage chamber from reservoir 2may be drained from said drainage chamber to atmosphere via saidatmospheric port in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The piston assemblage 13 further comprises a piston stem 24 extendingcoaxially from the side of piston 14 adjacent low-pressure chamber 17with the free end of said piston stem extending through casing 12 andterminating externally thereof to bear on one end, which may be calledthe piston stem end, of a valve-operating arm or lever 25. Thevalve-operating arm or lever 25 is pivotally supported between its twoends by a pin 26 on the exterior of casing 12 and has formed, on whatmay be called the valve end of said arm opposite the piston stem end, afinger 27 extending through atmospheric port 23 to make abuttingengagement with the portion of ball valve 21 encircled by valve seat 22.A spring 28 encircling piston stem 24 in low-pressure chamber 17 urgesthe piston assemblage 13 upwardly, as viewed in the drawing, toward avalve-closing position in which pressure exerted by the free end ofpiston stem 24 on the piston stem end of valve-operating arm 25 isrelieved therefrom. Consequently, due to the pivotal action of arm 25,air pressure acting on the side of ball valve 21 adjacent drainagechamber 19 and through said ball valve causes pivotal movement of arm 25in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in the drawing, to a normalrotated position in which said air pressure is effective for maintainingsaid ball valve in its closed position, above described, and thereby cutoff communication between said drainage chamber 19 and atmospheric port23.

An atmospheric choke device 29 of predetermined flow capacity isinterposed in conduit 10 adjacent the exhaust port 11 of the governordevice 5 to provide restricted venting of air pressure from said pipe toatmosphere for a purpose to be hereinafter disclosed.

In considering and understanding the operation of the improved automaticdrain valve apparatus embodying the invention, a brief descriptionregarding the operation of the well-known devices associated therewithwill be considered. As is well known to those skilled in the art, thegovernor device 5 functions to control operation of the air compressor 1through the compressor unloadcr devices 6 to maintain pressure in thestorage reservoir 2 within a predetermined operating range betweenminimum and maximum pressure values or settings. That is, when pressurein the storage reservoir 2 has attained the maximum pressure setting dueto compressing operation of the compressor 1, the governor device 5operates responsively to such maximum pressure to open communicationbetween conduits 7 and 8 to allow air at said maximum pressure to flowto the compressor unloader devices 6 which are actuated responsively tosuch air pressure to unload the compressor, as, for example, by holdingthe intake valve of the corresponding cylinder open, thus preventingfurther compression of air by the compressor and consequent furtherbuildup of pressure in the storage reservoir and at the same time, ifdesired, through conventional control means (not shown) cause thecompressor driving motor (not shown) to run at idling speed or stop.Upon reduction of pressure in the storage reservoir 2 to the minimumpressure setting, such as through use of compressed air stored in thereservoir, the governor device 5 operates to close communication betweenconduits 7 and 8 to thereby cut off flow of pressurized air to andeffect exhaust of actuating pressure from the compressor unloaderdevices 6 which, in turn, operate to load the compressor 1, as byallowing the intake valve of each cylinder to operate normally, andrestoring the speed of the compressor driving motor to a normaloperating rate, for compressing air and recharging the storage reservoirwith pressurized air until the maximum setting is reached once more.

When the governor device 5 operates responsively to the minimum pressuresetting for cutting off communication between conduits 7 and 8 forrestoring the air compressor 1 to a loaded condition, as above noted,actuating air pressure exhausted from the unloader devices 6 flowstherefrom via conduit 8, the exhaust port 11 in said governor device andconduit 10 to high-pressure chamber 15 via passageway 16 of the drainvalve device 9 and to low-pressure chamber 17 via the choke 18. Due torestriction of flow of pressurized air to low-pressure chamber 17imposed by choke 18, such pressurized air supplied concurrently andunrestrictedly to high-pressure chamber 15 is momentarily effective forestablishing a pressure differential between the opposite sides ofpiston 14 and thereby exert on said piston an impulse sufiicient forovercoming the opposing force of spring 28 so as to cause pistonassemblage 13 to be moved downwardly, as viewed in the drawing, to avalve-opening position. Downward movement of piston stem 24 causessufficient clockwise pivotal movement of arm 25, as viewed in thedrawing, to a rotated position in which ball valve 21 is unseated byfinger 27. With ball valve 21 unseated, condensate accumulated indrainage chamber 19 is discharged to atmosphere via port 23 by the forceof air pressure from storage reservoir 2 via passage 20 blowing past theunseated ball valve.

The ball valve 21 is held in its unseated or open position until thepressure in high-pressure chamber I15 is sufficiently reduced ordissipated through choke 29 to render spring 28 effective for restoringpiston assemblage 13 to its valve-closing position, the time intervalduring which said ball valve is held in its said open position beingdetermined mainly by the preselected flow capacity of said choke 29. Thechoke 18 interposed between passageway 16 and low-pressure chamber 17merely serves as a tuning choke via which a fixed amount of airpressure, as determined by the size of said choke, is permitted to flowto low-pressure chamber 17 at the same time it is supplied tohigh-pressure chamber 15, thereby partially equalizing the pressure inhigh-pressure chamber 15 above piston 14 and thus, in effect, assistingspring 28 in resisting downward movement of piston assemblage 13 andthen in restoring the piston assemblage to its valve-closing position.If, therefore, low-pressure chamber 17 were completely cut off frompressure in passageway 16 and opened directly to atmosphere, in a mannerto be hereinafter described, the time interval during which ball valve21 remains open would be determined solely by the size of choke 29. Thistime interval can be reduced, however, by closing low-pressure chamber17 to atmosphere and by providing the tuning choke 18, as abovedescribed, the amount of such reduction in the time interval beingvariable according to the size of the orifice in said tuning choke, thatis, the larger said orifice is, the greater the reduction of the timeinterval.

The dimension or flow rate of choke 29 is more critical than that ofchoke 18. Since it is not considered necessary to the understanding ofthe invention, the structural details of the governor device 5 are notshown in the drawing. The governor device 5, however, does include avalve element which is retained in one position by pressure in thereservoir 2 as long as such reservoir pressure exceeds the minimumvalue. In the one position of the valve element, communication betweenconduits 7 and 8 is open for maintaining reservoir pressure in theunloader device 6 whereby the compressor 1 is maintained in an unloadedcondition of operation until said reservoir pressure is reduced to theminimum value. Upon reduction of reservoir pressure to the minimumvalue, however, operation of the valve element in the governor device 5to a different position is initiated to open communication of conduit 8to exhaust port 11 and thereby to atmospheric choke 29 to permitactuating pressure in the unloader devices 6 and that acting on thevalve element in thegovernor device to be exhausted to atmosphere viasaid choke. The flow rate of choke 29 must be and is such thatexhaustion of air pressure from the unloader devices 6 and that actingon the valve element of the governor device 5 occurs at a sufficientlyrapid rate as to effect immediate loaded operation of the compressor 1and snap action of said valve element to its different position. It isdesirable, therefore, to locate the choke 29 in the proximity of theexhaust port 11 to assure prompt relief of pressure as above described.On the other hand, the flow rate of choke 29 must also be sufficientlyrestrictive for causing sufficient air pressure eX- hausted from theunloader devices 6 to reach and attain effectiveness in high-pressurechamber 15 for operating piston assemblage \13 to its valve-operatingposition, as above described.

All air pressure in conduit and in both chambers 15 and 17 of the drainvalve device 9 is eventually dissipated, that is, after a period of timedetermined jointly by the respective flow capacities of atmosphericchoke 29 and tuning choke 18, when said tuning choke is provided and asabove described, so that said drain valve device, in its normal closedcondition, will be void of any air pressure and thus in condition forthe succeeding drainage cycle, which will be effected at the conclusionof the next unloaded period of the compressor.

If the tuning choke 18 is not desired for purposes of modifying the timeinterval provided by atmospheric choke 29, as above explained, the drainvalve device 9 may be modified by simply substituting a plug 30 for thetuning choke 18 and removing a plug 31 provided in a port 32 in casing12. By .such modification, lowpressure chamber 17 is closed toprevailing pressure in passageway 16 and opened to atmosphere via port32 in casing -12, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. It should beapparent with such an arrangement, that is, without diversion of any airpressure to low-pressure chamber 17 and partial equalization of pressurein high-pressure chamber 15, the time interval for dissipating thepressure in said high-pressure chamber and conduit 10 is determinedsolely by the flow capacity of atmospheric choke 29.

As will be observed, the valve-operating arm 25 of the drain valvedevice 9 is arranged exteriorly of casing 12 in such manner that if sodesired and deemed necessary, the automatic drain valve device 9 may beoperated manually, at any time, independently of automatic operationthereof, simply by applying manual effort to said arm to effectclockwise pivotal movement thereof to un- 6 seat the ball valve 21. Whenthe arm 25 is released, air pressure in drainage chamber 19 is effectivefor reseating ball valve 21 on seat 22.

Having now described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. For use in a compressed air system wherein a compressor supplyingcompressed air to a storage reservoir is loaded and unloadedresponsively to variations of pressure in the reservoir, an automaticdrain valve apparatus comprising, in combination:

(a) a valve having a normally closed position and be ing operable to anopen position for draining condensed moisture from the reservoir,

(b) valve-operating means actua'ble responsively to air under pressurefor operating said valve to its said open position,

(c) control means operable responsively to air in the reservoir at acertain high value for effecting supply of air under pressure forcausing the compressor to be unloaded and being operable responsively toair in the reservoir at a certain lower value for effecting venting ofair under pressure for causing the compressor to be loaded and supplyingsuch vented air under pressure to said valve-operating means for causingsaid valve to be operated to its said open position,-and

(d) atmospheric choke means via which such vented air under pressuresupplied to said valve-operating means is dissipated.

2. In a compressed air system, in combination:

(a) a reservoir for storing compressed air,

(b) a compressor including an unloader device operable responsively toair under pressure for unloading the compressor and to release of suchair under pressure for loading the compressor,

(0) a governor device operable responsively to air in said reservoir ata certain high pressure for effecting supply of air under pressure tosaid unloader device and operable responsively to air in said reservoirat a certain lower pressure for effecting release of air under pressurefrom said unloader device,

(d) a drain valve device including a valve member having a closedposition and being operable to an open position for draining condensedmoisture from the reservoir,

(e) valve-operating means operable responsively to said air pressurereleased from said unloader device by said governor device for causingoperation of the valve member to its said open position, and

(f) atmospheric choke means via which said air pressure released fromthe unloader device and supplied to the valve-operating means isdissipated after a preselected time interval, as determined by the flowcapacity of said choke means, for effecting restoration of said valvemember to its said closed position.

3. For use in a compressed air system wherein a compressor supplyingcompressed air to .a storage reservoir is loaded and unloadedresponsively to variations of pressure in the reservoir, an automaticdrain valve apparatus comprising, in combination:

(a) a valve having a normally closed position and being operable to anopen position for draining condensed moisture from the reservoir,

(b) a pivotally supported lever having one end engageable with saidvalve and being pivotally operable out of a normal position, in whichsaid valve is in its closed position, to a different position in whichsaid valve is operated to its said open position,

(c) piston means operatively engaging the opposite end of said lever andbeing subjectable to opposing air pressure supplied to respectivechambers adjacent opposite sides of said piston means,

((1) control means operable responsively to air in the reservoir at acertain high value for effecting supply of fluid under pressure forcausing the compressor to be unloaded and being operable responsively toair in the reservoir at a certain lower value for effecting venting ofair under pressure for causing the compressor to be loaded and supplyingsuch vented air under pressure to said chambers, and

(e) choke means intercommunicating said chambers with each other andeffective for causing a pressure differential across opposite sides ofsaid piston means upon supply of said air under pressure to said chambers by said control means,

(f) said piston means being axially movable in one direction to avalve-opening position responsively to said pressure differential foreffecting pivotal movement of said lever to its said different position.

4. An air compressing system comprising, in combination:

(a) acompressor,

(b) a reservoir for receiving compressed air from the compressor,

(c) an unloader device operable responsively to air under pressure forunloading said compressor and to venting of such air under pressuretherefrom for loading said compressor,

(d) a governor device operable responsively to air pressure in thereservoir at a certain maximum value for effecting supply of air underpressure to the unloader device and responsively to air pressure in thereservoir at a certain minimum value for causing such air under pressureto be vented from the unloader device via a vent port in said governordevice,

(e) an automatic drain valve comprising:

(i) acasing,

(ii) a valve member operably disposed in said casing and subject to andbiased by air pressure in the reservoir toward a closed position, saidvalve being operable to an open position for draining condensed moisturefrom the reservoir,

(iii) a lever pivotally supported on said casing with one endoperatively contacting said valve member and therefore subject to thebiasing effect of reservoir pressure acting on the valve member so as tobe pivotally biased in one direction toward a normal position in whichsaid valve member is in its closed position, said lever being operableupon pivotal movement thereof in a direction opposite to said onedirection to a rotated position for operating said valve memher to itssaid open position,

(iv) piston means subject in opposing relation to air pressure inchambers formed by said casing and said piston means on opposite sidesof the piston means,

(v) choke means intercommunicating said chambers with each other andeffective for causing a pressure differential across the opposite sidesof said piston means upon supply of air under pressure to said chambers,

(vi) a piston stem extending from one side of said piston means with itsfree end operatively contacting the other end of said lever opposite itssaid one end,

(vii) said piston means and said piston stem being operable responsivelyto said pressure differential to valve-opening positions in which aforce sufficient for overcoming the biasing effect of pressure in thereservoir is exerted on and transmitted through said lever for operatingit to and retaining it in its said rotated position until air pressurein said chambers is equalized via said choke means,

(viii) biasing means in one of said chambers effective upon equalizationof air pressures in said chambers for urging said piston means and saidpiston stem to valve-closing positions in which said lever is relievedof said force and said biasing effect of air pressure in the reservoiracting on and through said valve member is rendered effective forcausing pivotal movement of said lever in said one direction to its saidnormal position and therefore restoration of said valve member to itssaid closed position,

(f) conduit means via which air under pressure vented by the governordevice from the unloader device flows from the vent port in saidgovernor device to said chambers of said automatic drain valve forestablishing said pressure differential across the opposite sides ofsaid piston means, and

(g) an atmospheric vent choke interposed in said conduit means and viawhich such air under pressure supplied to said chambers is dissipated toatmosphere subsequently to expiration of a predetermined time interval.

5. Automatic drain valve apparatus, as defined in claim 3, wherein saidpiston means further comprises:

(a) a piston stem extending from one side of said piston means with itsfree end operatively contacting the other end of said lever foreffecting said pivotal movement thereof to its said different positionupon axial movement of said piston means in its said one direction, and

(b) biasing means effective upon release of air pressure acting on saidpiston means for causing axial movement of said piston means in adirection opposite to said one direction to a valve-closing position inwhich said lever is operated to its said normal position for restoringsaid valve to its said closed position.

6. Automatic drain valve apparatus, as defined in claim 5, furthercharacterized by atmospheric choke means via which air pressure suppliedto said chambers and acting on said piston means for effecting operationthereof to its said valve-opening position is released after apreselected time interval, as determined by the flow capacity of saidchoke means, for rendering said biasing means effective for operatingsaid piston means to its said valve-closing position.

7. An air compressing system comprising, in combination:

(a) acompressor,

(b) a reservoir for receiving compressed air from the compressor,

(c) an unloader device operable responsively to air under pressure forunloading said compressor and to venting of such air under pressuretherefrom for loading said compressor,

(d) a governor device operable responsively to air pressure in thereservoir at a certain maximum value for effecting supply of air underpressure to the unloader device and responsively to air pressure in thereservoir at a certain minimum value for causing such air under pressureto be vented from the unloader device via a vent port in said governordevice,

(e) an automatic drain valve comprising:

(i) a valve member having a normally closed position and being operableto an open position for draining condensed moisture from the reservoir,

(ii) piston means operatively engaging said valve member and beingoperable out of a normal position responsively to actuating air pressureto a valve-operating position for effecting operation of said valvemember to its said open position, and

(iii) biasing means effective upon releas of such actuating air pressureacting on said piston means for restoring said piston means to its saidnormal position,

(f) conduit means via, which air. under pressure vented 8,341,111 9 10by said governor device from said unloader device References Cited flowsfrom said vent port in the governor device to UNITED STATES PATENTS saidautomatic drain valve for actuating said piston means to its saidvalve-operating position, and g 25 (g) atmospheric choke meansinterposed in said con- 5 3004549 10/1961 T man 23 duit means and viawhich said actuating air pressure emp e 1S .dlsslpated from i at aPredetfir' DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. mined rate forrendering said biasing means effectlve to restore said piston means toits said normal posi- LAURENCE EFNER, Examinertion after a perdeterminedtime interval, 10 L KRAUSS Assistant Examiner

1. FOR USE IN A COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEM WHEREIN A COMPRESSOR SUPPLYINGCOMPRESSED AIR TO A STORAGE RESERVOIR IS LOADED AND UNLOADEDRESPONSIVELY TO VARIATIONS OF PRESSURE IN THE RESERVOIR, AND AUTOMATICDRAIN VALVE APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A VALVE HAVING ANORMALLY CLOSED POSITION AND BEING OPERABLE TO AN OPEN POSITION FORDRAINING CONDENDED MOISTURE FROM THE RESERVOIR, (B) VALVE-OPERATINGMEANS ACTUABLE RESPONSIVELY TO AIR UNDER PRESSURE FOR OPERATING SAIDVALVE TO ITS SAID OPEN POSITION, (C) CONTROL MEANS OPERABLE RESPONSIVELYTO AIR IN THE RESERVOIR AT A CERTAIN HIGH VALVE FOR EFFECTING SUPPLY OFAIR UNDER PRESSURE FOR CAUSING THE COMPRESSOR TO BE UNLOADED AND BEINGOPERABLE RESPONSIVELY TO AIR IN THE RESERVOIR AT A CERTAIN LOWER VALVEFOR EFFECTING VENTING OF AIR UNDER PRESSURE FOR CAUSING THE COMPRESSORTO BE LOADED AND SUPPLYING SUCH VENTED AIR UNDER PRESSURE TO SAIDVALVE-OPERATED TO ITS SAID OPEN POCAUSING SAID VALVE TO BE OPERATED TOITS SAID OPEN POSITION, AND (D) ATMOSPHERIC CHOKE MEANS VIA WHICH SUCHVENTED AIR UNDER PRESSURE SUPPLIED TO SAID VALVE-OPERATING MEANS ISDISSIPATED.